Tie bar forming and feeding apparatus



TIE BAR FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS Sheet of 2- Filed April 4, 1967 33e 44 34 44 as 3c I6 I2 IQ I INVENTOR- RAW/wave Tnl. CLflAJTo/U Jan. 28,1969 R. w. CLANTON 3,423,811

TIE BAR FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS 1 Filed Apfil 4, 1967 .Sheet 201'5 L Q INVENTOR. I .HQYMOND kl. CLAAJTOAJ W VZv/w- QT-r-OEAIEYS Jan.28, 1969 R. w. CLANTON TIE BAR FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS Sheet FiledApril 4, 1967 w R. T E. g J w ML m JQQ W QM H m0 w mN I W V 4 3 d w R Liw W w w mm H 41 w ir v f A j Jan. 28, 1969 R. w. CLANTON 3, 23 81 TIEBAR FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS Filed April 4, 1967 Sheet of 5 R4VMOAJD w. Cum/mu INVENTOR.

Immul wwm' R. w. CLANTON 3,423,811 TIE BAR FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUSJan, 28, 1969 Filed April 4, 1967 Sheet J' 5r 5 II A l g, 1%.! L. '.:'lF LQ 4 INVENTOR. Ray/wave W. CLHAJTOIU United States Patent 13 ClaimsInt. Cl. B21f 45/00; 1323]) 23/02 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Theapplication discloses apparatus for cutting and forming tie bars fromwire rod stock and apparatus for feeding the formed tie bars into themolds of a concrete block-making machine designed to produce dual blocksconnected by tie bars.

This invention has to do with apparatus for making concrete block unitsof the type wherein two blocks are disposed in parallel laterally spacedrelation, being joined by metal tie bars or rods, the ends of which areembedded in the blocks.

A primary object of the invention is to provide novel apparatus forforming tie bars from wire rod stock and for feeding the formed bars toa concrete block-making machine in timed relation with the operation ofthe machine.

Another object is to provide a new and improved tine apparatus andassociated structure for feeding metal tie bars into the mold of aconcrete block-making machine. In this connection it is an object toprovide a tine mechanism which positively grips the tie bars, moves theminto the mold in a properly oriented position, posi tively ejects thetie bars and continues to 'hold them in position in the mold until themold is filled or partially filled with concrete.

A further object is to provide novel and improved means for cutting andforming tie bars from long lengths or rolls of wire rod stock.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawings and thefollowing description. Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus embodying the inventionshown related to a concrete block-making machine;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, but on alarger scale;

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view on line 33 of FIG. 2 with portions ofthe apparatus broken away;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan view on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an inverted fragmentary plan view on line 6-'6 of FIG. 4showing a portion of the tie bar forming mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but with the parts in a differentrelation;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view on line 88 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary detail view of a part of the mechanism shown inFIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view in the plane of line 1010 ofFIG. 2, but showing the tine raised to receive tie bars from the tie barforming mechanism;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10, but showing only tine and withthis in a tie bar gripping position;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 but showing the tine in tie barejecting position; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary isometric view of the end of the tine in thetie rod gripping position of FIG. 11.

More particularly describing the invention, numeral Patented Jan. 28,1969 11 generally designates the main frame of the apparatus which isgenerally rectangular in plan. It includes two rear corner posts 12, two.front corner posts 13, top side rails 14, top end rails 15, and lowerside rails 16. The frame is adapted to bolt to the framework of aconcrete block-making machine 17 (or be otherwise supported) at itsfront end and hence the corner posts 13 do not extend below the siderails 16 while the rear corner posts extend therebelow to serve as legsto support that end of the frame.

Mounted for vertical movement on the main frame is a carriage supportingframe 26 which includes the vertical posts 21, one at each sideconnected at their upper ends by a crossbar 22, and a horizontal framestructure including two side rails 23, braces 24, and a rear cross rail25. The posts 21 are supported in roller assemblies 26 and 27 carried bythe main frame upper and lower rails, 14 and 16, respectively, andadditionally the horizontal frame is provided with rollers 28 which runagainst the rear corner posts of the main frame.

For the purpose of raising and lowering the supporting frame 20 Iprovide a pair of fluid jacks 30, each of which comprises a cylinder 3'1mounted upon the crossbar 22 and having a piston rod 32 which is securedto a cross member 33 on the main frame.

A carriage 34 is mounted for movement along the side bars 23 of theframe 20. The carriage includes a main plate 35 that is fitted at itsends with roller assemblies 36, each having an upper roller 37 and alower roller 38 which run against the upper and lower edges,respectively, of the side rails 23 of frame 20. Means is provided formoving the carriage along the side rails 23 of frame 20 so that it canbe advanced and retracted with reference to the block-rnaking machine17. This means includes a piston-cylinder unit 40 comprising a cylinder41 mounted on the rear cross rail 25 of frame 20 and a piston rod 42extending from the piston (not shown) and connected to the plate 35 at43.

The carriage 34 supports two tines 44, although more may be used ifrequired. The function of these is to receive tie bars from the tie barcutting and forming mechanism 45 (or other source) and deliver them tothe molds 46 of the block-making machine 17. For this purpose each tineis formed with one or more transverse slots 47 in its upper surface toreceive the tie bars. Each tine has two outer plates 51 which aresecured to the plate 35 by brackets 52. Between the outer plates is apair of inner plates, individually designated 53 and 54 connected attheir outer ends by end plate 55 so as to move together as a unit. Plate53 is formed to provide a sharp projection or tooth 56 at one slot 47and plate 54 is provided with a similar tooth 56 at the other slot forthe purpose of gripping the tie bars when the two inner plates are movedto the rear relative to the outer plates, that is, to the position shownin FIGS. 11 and 13. Both inner plates are provided with a downwardlycurved convex sloping surface 57 in the region of each slot 47 so thatwhen the two inner plates are moved forward with respect to the outerplates the curved surfaces will serve to eject the tie bars from theslots, as best shown in FIG. 12. At an intermediate position betweenthese two described above, the slots 47 are open for tie bars to bereceived from the tie bar cutting and forming mechanism 45 (or any othermeans) as best shown in FIG. 10.

The tines are caused to operate as above described by the followingmeans. It will be noted that the two inner plates 53 and 54 extendrearwardly of the carriage plates 35 and also rearwardly of the innerends of the outer plates 51. Each of the inner plates is provided with arearwardly extending rod 60 that is threaded at its end to accommodate anut 61. The rods freely pass through an actuating bar 62 whose functionwill be described later. A compression coil spring 63 is provided oneach rod 60 between the nut thereon and bar 62.

In operation, when the carriage moves to the rear under the influence ofthe piston-cylinder unit 40 the rods 60 abut a fixed cross member 65that is part of the frame 20. When this ocurrs the two inner plates 53and 54 of the time are advanced as a unit relative to the outer plates51 but only sufficiently to move the plates to the position in whichthey are shown in FIG. 10, that is, the intermediate position abovereferred to, wherein the slots 47 are Open to receive the tie bars 50.Rearward movement of the carriage is accurately controlled by anadjustable stop means 66 between cross member 65 and side plates 67 ofthe carriage 34 or other suitable means can be used for the purpose.

After the tines receive the tie bars the frame 20, which had previouslybeen raised so that the tines would be just below the tie bar cuttingand forming mechanism, the frame is lowered and the carriage advanced.As soon as the latter moves forward, springs 63 draw the inner plates 53and 54 of the tines back, relative to the outer plates, causing the tiebars to be tightly gripped, as shown in FIG. 11. Forward movement of thecarriage and upward movement of the frame 20 then positions the tinesbetween the molds with the ends of the tie bars in the molds 46, thelatter being slotted at 46 to receive the bars. The tie bars are ejectedfrom the slots in the tines by moving the inner and outer plates 53 and54 forward relative to the outer plates 51. This is accomplished bymeans of a pair of fluid jacks 70 mounted on the rearwardly extendingside plates 67 of carriage 34 and the aforementioned actuating bar 62which is carried at its ends on the piston rods 71 of the jacks. Whenthe fluid jacks 70 are actuated to move the bar forward, it abuts theinner ends of the inner plates 53 and 54 and moves them forward to theposition of FIG. 12.

The apparatus also includes the means 45 for automatically cutting andforming the tie bars from wire rod stock which is fed from anyconvenient source, the wire rod entering through feed rolls 80 which aredriven by a suitable motor and gear reduction means 81, through a chaindrive 82, and, in the form of apparatus shown, two such wires 83 are fedto the apparatus 45 which operates to form four tie bars on eachoperation.

The tie bar cutting and forming apparatus includes a main plate 84attached to the frame and mounted to be horizontal. At the front theplate has an upright flange or end wall 85. Plate 84 has a wide centralrectangular open area 86 extending longitudinally of the machine andspaced laterally of this, two other elongated rectangular open areas 87and 88 of a width each one-half that of the central area. Theundersurface of plate 84 is built up with raised areas, that is, theyproject downwardly from the surface 90 and, as shown, they are formed byplates 91, 92 and 93 welded, bolted or otherwise secured thereto whichdefine channels 94 and 95 to receive the wire which is to be formed. Inline with the channels is an apertured guide block 96 through which thewire rod enters the channels and at the opposite side of the plate arestop members 97 and 98.

Above the main plate are two movable plates 100 and 101, which carrycutting and forming dies that project through the open areas 86, 87 and88 of the main plate. Each movable plate has two sets of forming dies ateach side, plate 100 being provided with the set 102 which operates inthe open area 87 and set 103 which operates in the center opening 86.The other plate has the set 104 in area 88 and set 105 in the centralopening. The plates are moved in opposite directions, as indicated bythe view, FIG. 7, wherein they have been moved through a major portionof the distance of their travel, and it will be seen that thecooperating sets of dies at the center serve to sever the wire rods inthat region and that the set of dies in opening 87 in cooperation withthe rod guide 96 serve to sever the rods there so that they can beformed into four tie bars 50. When the two plates have been movedslightly beyond the position in which they are shown the ends of the tierods will reach the curved surfaces 88 of the dies and the tie rods willbe freed to fall into the tines which will be in place to receive them.

Fluid jacks 108, connected in pairs between frame cross member 109 andthe plates and 101, are used to move the plates.

It it to be understood that any suitable electrofiuid control andactuating system can be used for coordinating the wire feed to the tiebar cutting and forming means, for coordinating the operation of thelatter with the operation of the tines, and for coordinating the entireapparatus shown with a concrete block-making machine.

I claim:

1. In a machine for molding concrete blocks having a mold structureadapted to form a pair of laterally spaced block bodies connected by tiebars, powered means for feeding a length of wire rod, powered formingmeans for receiving, cutting and shaping the fed wire rod intoindividual tie bars, and powered transport means for carrying theindividual tie bars from their region of formation into said moldstructure.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 in which means is provided forcoordinating said feed means, said forming means said transport meanswhereby the same operate in sequence.

3. In apparatus for feeding tie bars to a concrete blockmaking machinehaving mold elements adapted to form a pair of laterally spaced blockbodies connected by tie rods to form a dual block unit, a main frame, asecond frame mounted on said main frame for vertical movement withrespect thereto, a carriage mounted on said second frame for horizontalmovement with respect thereto, a tie bar transporting tine mounted onsaid carriage, powered means connected between said second frame andsaid carriage for moving the latter, and powered means connected betweensaid main frame and said second frame for moving the latter.

4. The apparatus set powered means between said second frame and saidcarriage comprises fluid means.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 in which means is provided on saidmain frame above said tine for feeding a tie rod onto said tine.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 in which said tine is providedwith means for gripping a tie rod and for ejecting the same and in whichmeans is provided for operating said gripping means and ejecting meansin sequence.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 in which the means of the tine forgripping and for ejecting a tie rod comprises a transverse slot in theupper edge of said tine and relatively longitudinally movable elementsof the tine.

8. In apparatus for feeding tie bars to a concrete blockmaking machinehaving mold elements adapted to form a pair of laterally spaced blockbodies connected by tie rods to form a dual block unit, a main frame, asecond frame mounted on said main frame for vertical movement withrespect thereto, a carriage mounted on said second frame for horizontalmovement with respect thereto, a tie bar transporting tine mounted onsaid carriage, said tine including two relatively longitudinally movableparts having a transverse tie rod receiving slot therein, said partsbeing adapted to grip a tie rod when one is moved relative to the otherin one direction and adapted to release and eject a tie rod when movedin a relatively opposite direction, powered means for moving said secondframe, and powered means for moving said carriage.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 in which one of the parts of thetine is fixed to the carriage and the other is movable relative thereto,in which the movable part of forth in claim 3 in which the frames andbetween said jack the tine abuts a portion of the carriage to limit itsmovement in one direction and in which spring means is provided foryieldably holding said movable part in a given position relative to thefixed part.

10. The apparatus set forth in claim 9 in which powered means isprovided for overcoming said spring means.

11. In apparatus for cutting and forming tie bars, a stationary mainplate having means defining at least one wire rod receiving channel,said main plate having a pair of openings in the path of the wire rod atthe ends of the channel, a movable plate adjacent a side of said mainplate and having die elements extending therefrom through the openingsin said main plate, die portions on said main plate cooperating with thedie elements of said movable plate whereby to cut and form said Wire rodinto tie bars upon movement of said movable plate, and means for movingsaid movable plate.

12. The apparatus set forth in claim 11 in which means is provided formounting said movable plate on said main plate.

13. In apparatus for cutting and forming tie bars, a stationary mainplate having means defining at least one wire rod receiving channel,said main plate having a central opening interrupting and two lateralopenings at the ends of said channel, a pair of movable plates adjacenta side of said main plate and movable in opposite directions, saidplates meeting along the center axis of said center opening andextending to the lateral limits of the lateral openings, said movableplates having cooperating die elements projecting through said centeropening and each having die elements projecting through a lateralopening, die portions on said main plate cooperating with the dieelements of said movable plates, said cooperating die elements of saidmovable plates and said other die elements of said movable plates andsaid die portions of said main plate cooperating upon opposite movementof the movable plates to cut and form said wire rod into tie bars, andmeans for moving said movable plates.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD H. EANES, JR., PrimaryExaminer.

US. Cl. X.R. 29-34

